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Contest: Best Training Tip Wins a Suunto Ambit

As the temps start to rise, more people are returning to those outside training sessions. Luckily, there’s a new piece of gear that will turn the volume up on those nature-filled workouts … and it could be all yours. In partnership with Suunto, TacticalGear.com is giving away THE watch of the season—the Ambit. All you have to do is share your advice for training in the outdoors.

Arguably the hottest watch on the market, the Suunto Ambit ($550) is the outdoor athlete’s best friend. It’s packed with tons of features that will definitely take any fitness routine to the next level. Its top functions include a GPS navigation system, altimeter, track logging, barometric sensor and 3D compass. Touted as a true GPS watch, you can plot out your course through Movescount and Google Maps. It sounds complicated, but it’s very user-friendly. In addition, technologies like the Suunto FuseSpeed, Peak Training Effect and the Recovery Time will help step up your workout.

This timepiece can pretty much do it all. For a chance to win it, share your best advice for training in the great outdoors in the comments section below. “Best” can be a tricky word, but really the sky is the limit. Topics can range from your choice pre-run or recovery meal or beverage, athletic clothes, training equipment or locations, proven stretches … if you have found something particularly helpful in your workout tell us about it.

Don’t forget to tell us why this tip works so well for you. It should be easy to understand, accurate and specific. We encourage you to include any links to videos, expert advice or photos if you think it will support your piece of wisdom.

The contest is only open to U.S. residents. TacticalGear.com’s staff will select the winning entry. The deadline to enter is May 31, 2012. The winner will be announced via Facebook and Twitter on Friday, June 1, 2012 Monday, June 4, 2012.

All comments must be approved by the editor; your entry will appear below once it’s been read.

193 Comments on “Contest: Best Training Tip Wins a Suunto Ambit”

Training for combat must involve contact. If you’re firing prone, hit the deck hard. If your trail running don’t forget to bushwack now and then. If you’re doing combatives throw on the headgear and gloves and TRAIN.

when you wake up one of the first things that you should have is a protein shake with a fruit and a handful of either almonds or peanuts. Then, again within the first 30 minutes following your workout. After that make sure to eat a full meal every three hours; protein no more than the size of your open palm; carbohydrates no more than the size or your closed fist; and as much veggies as you want. You can replace one of your meals with the protein, fruit, and nuts. Drink a gallon of water a day to stay flushed and cleansed. Make sure that you are running 3-5 times a week as well as some kind of weight training. The goal is to be taking in 1 gram of protein per 1 lb of body weight that you wan to be at.

Don’t get too hung up on the stats. If you start over-monitoring your heart rate, steps, reps, etc. you’ll fall out of your groove. You can pay attention to those things to some degree, but don’t obsess or your results will be less!

As with anything, motivation makes 95% of the experience. Knowing that I’ll get something out of it (in the end) is what keeps me going. Gotta keep your eye on the prize.

Say someone offers $100 to pick up a dog turd. I don’t want to do it. But once I do, that’s $100 I never had.

Protein. Eat eat eat and never stop eating. At least 1 gram of protein per pound you weigh. It’s essential you give your muscles both fuel to burn and enough material to reconstruct and build upon themselves during the rigors of training.

And of course, water. Staying hydrated is extremely important. A body is an incredible machine when given the proper liquids. Don’t fall for the “Drink X many cups of water a day” saying, this is for the average person. And you of course are above average, amirite?

Take your body weight, divide it by two. That’s how many ounces of water you should be drinking a day.

Regardless if I win or not — thanks for all the tips here and I hope you enjoy mine. They’ve served me well.

Exercise 4-5 days per week for at least 45 minutes each day. Exercise with a friend. Warm-up the muscles to be used by mimicing the exercise to be performed for 3-5 minutes, then stretch those muscles for 10-15 seconds each, start jogging then run. Alternate runs with distance, speed, hills, and mix in squats, push-ups, sit-ups/crunches, high knees, body builders, etc… and always finish it up with a cool down of approx 5-7 minutes and stretching. Ensure you use a good heart rate monitor and know what your upper and lower limits are. Hydrate well in advance and don’t wait until you start exercising to hydrate. Eat fruits, vegetables and lean baked meats. Know your limits and listen to your body. Don’t overdo it and give your body adequate rest. These simply yet effective steps have worked well for me over the last 17 years since i’ve been in the military. I wrecked a motorcycle in 1997 traveling over 100mph and doctors said i wouldn’t run again. I was young, went through physical therapy and followed the above regimine and ran the Las Vegas marathon 6 years later. Now at 35, I’m in the best shape of my life. I could use that Suuno Ambit as my current watch doesn’t show altitude and i”m in Albuquerque NM which is somewhere around a mile high and there’s a mountain a few miles away that i run up occasionally. I don’t know how tall it is, but do know it takes several hours to get to the top.

As someone that gained a lot of weight after getting married and two babies and have been fighting to get it off-I fully believe in setting tiny goals to start. I would say, “ok, I’m going to jog to that stop sign and back” , even if it was only 20 feet. Usually, I would get there and set a new target a little ways off. It’s good to set goals you can easily accomplish to start with to build up your confidence and comfort if you are starting all over. Don’t try to completely cut out all sweets or all carbs…start small. Reward yourself when you do good and you will be kicking your own butt before you know it

I entered a ultramarathon (31 miles, in the mountains at various elevations ranging from 3,000 – 6,000 ft in the dead summer) to celebrate my big 40.

I deliberately trained for this in the middle of the day in the summer when temps were at high 90s at conditions much harder then the event on the mountain trails near my house. I knew I had tough event and I wanted my training to be tougher.

Came the day, I ran the 31 miles and ran by bigger guys who were passed out on the side of trail. Helped out a few.

Army Training is what best prpared me for anything I do in life. It has taught me that if you train for the expected and unexpected, things will go much smoother and your training will end up taking over no matter what predicament you encounter. My training in the Army prepared me for Iraq and let me and my men come home safely after a long 14 months.

Train your WEAKEST POINT OF CONTACT the hardest! Weather it be your wrist, forearm,feet, exe. If you strengthen your weakest contact points the rest of your strength will be utilized to the fullest. I recommend simple grip exercises with stress balls or grip trainers. A few minutes a day will pay dividends when your full body strength is needed.

Train your weakest point the hardest! Weather it be your hands, wrists, exe. failure points will always trump strength. I will constantly be training my grip outside of a regular workout with grip trainers or stress balls.

Do this simple step and you will be able to optimize your usable strength.

i come from a poor family no matter who you are you can achieve any goal you set your mind to and if you have fear to accomplish them turn the fear into energy and power or do whatever it is thats your goal, my goal is to meet the qualifications phyysicaly and mentally to get accepted to west point and server for this country as an officer, no matter if you want to become a dr. or a football player set your mind to it think of those who mean much to you and go at your goal as if it were a speed bump in the road -Ryan

Best training tip i can give when working outdoors is to use nature to your advantage to create fun situiation but one that will also help you achieve whatever goal you may be training for. Be creative , have fun and be safe.

Mentally ready to start training. This helps you stay focused when things aren’t the way you want them. ASAP does not get you to the point where you want to be. Hydrate, patience and sticking with things get to where you want to be.

Assuming you know the area in you should still always have a compass. Roughly an hour before your workout have a light meal with equal protein and carbs for mental sharpness, energy and endurance. Plenty of water topped off with a good energy drink for ample hydration. Warm up slowly into your workout and pay attention to your body’s needs during. This should keep you going without any problems and keep you from running on empty and getting lightheaded and possibly fainting which happened to me once when I didn’t have any fuel to workout on. Blacking out is not how you want your workout to end.

I was never a runner. Found it boring until I tried running with my 3 Huskies. It’s not boring to me anymore! lol Point is that there is ALWAYS a way to exercise and train where it doesn’t have to be a drag!

Stay calm, always stretch, avoid ipods and earbuds for safety sake. Train at different times of the day outdoors because conditions are very different. I always run early AM and need to shake that up if I’m running competitively because my mind tells me not to run later in the day.

Assuming you have covered the basics like good meal, and hydration. After eight years in the Marine Corps I found that the best way to train is with a friend that is in better shape than you are( the hardest I ever trained was with 28 other guys around me). First, training with your buddy will generally force you to push harder due to not wanting to look like a wussie (if your the type A individual that doesn’t like to lose). Second, you can provide support for each other when your struggling and you can encourage the other when they are struggling to push through the pain and overcome training issues like plateauing. (Naturally I mean mild fatigue and mild cramping when properly hydrated.) Third, on those days when you don’t feel like going to the gym or working out your buddy can give you that extra kick in the @$$ to go on a run or to the gym. Naturally when you get there and start the workout the motivation always gets jump started. Fourth, don’t give up and don’t let your buddy give up… Giving up includes stopping to walk on your runs and taking a me break in the middle of a set. If you can’t breathe, back the pace off just a bit at a time till you can. Keep pushing, If you really think you need to walk. Shuffle, NOT the “Every day I’m shufflin”… The Recon shuffle. Even if your shuffling so slow you might be going faster by walking. Don’t stop, don’t give into the pain. Keep moving forward. Don’t let a little run kick your @$$. Most peoples abilities are only limited by their mental toughness.

You should always train as closely as possible and with the same equipment you will use in competition or in real world conditions. Most self-defense shootings, for example, are within 10 yards, at night, in low light conditions. People practicing (at the range) to defend themselves should most often be wearing low-light goggles and placing targets within 10 yards. How many people do you see shooting at the range with a flashlight in their off-hand? How often do you see people trying to shoot, move and use communications equipment simultaneously?

If you have new equipment that you plan to use, be sure to incorporate it into your training so you can learn it’s capabilities and limitations and become familiar with it. You don’t want to be adjusting to LEARNING how to use your equipment in the field, when lives are on the line. This goes for everything from electronics to rain gear.

Consider the environment and equipment you may encounter or deploy and ensure you are practicing under conditions as close as possible for what you are training for. Doing otherwise is cutting corners and does you and your team a great disservice.

HYDRATE! No matter where you are and how you train. Whether it is Shooting, hiking, MMA, climbing, or hitting the gym, stay hydrated. It will improve your stamina, strength, and believe it or not, your sight! One of the first signs of not being hydrated is blurred vision, and if you can’t see, you can’t fight!

After years of trying different routines from the old daily body parts to interval training I am hooked on crossfit. After conducting a lot of research for a graduate paper I have come to the realization that it’s all about heart rate. We all know the higher and longer your heart rate is elevated the less control you have over fine motor skills (mag changes – weapon malfunctions). So training to shorten the time it takes for your heart rate to return to a functioning level could just save your life. Crossfit does just that! Go to Polar.com and read some of the studies they have done on heart rate and you will become a believer. Be safe……

Always carry something to drink and carry a compass and a map. You can do a long while without eating, but not drinking, esp. in a desert. Learn how to read a compass and use that and the map to get you out of where you are at. You can carry a whistle, a mirror, firestarter. knife, gun, and emergency blanket, as well, but make sure you have at least the first three things always in your car at all times!!

Alway tell somebody where you will be training in the wilderness. You never know when something might happen and you realize you have not told somebody where you went training, make sure somebody knows where you are during all times of training so if something happens help is not far off.

Use marking cartridges, fx, sims, etc. Whenever possible in any environment, no matter what hypothetical scenerio you are placed in for a live fire excercise, the only true way to see your progress is to be shot back at by an opposing adversary.

Just three rules to prevent any accidental discharge, yes, only 3 rules!

1. Direction – safe direction for your firearm and consider what it is pointing at and what is behind it.
2. Finger – lay your finger along side of the barrel and not on the trigger until you are ready to destroy what your firearm is pointing at or what is behind that.
3. Unload – unload and confirm unloaded every time you pick up or put down your firearm, unless you are loading it to point at something and destroy it.

Three simple rules you will NEVER forget, DFU, so if you don’t violate all three, there can never be a firearm accidental discharge, particularly in training. Yes, if you Don’t F Up, there can never…..

When training for something important, something that may save your life one day, you have to make it a goal that you eat sleep and breathe. This goal should be a DREAM, a dream that you envision everyday. I am currently training to go to BUDS and I am a professional athlete. I dream about my goals and I envision executing them when the time comes. When you dream and fail you never let failure win, you get up and do it again. As the saying goes “The only easy day was YESTERDAY!”.

To anyone preparing to train light or hard, invest in your body, invest in the tools and equipment that will make you the best you can be. Go big or go home!

As a former active duty Marine, who has had training in desert warfare, mountain warfare, urban warfare, and terrorism counteraction, my best advice comes from the training I have already been through. There are no benefits in just sitting on your ass. Get the hell up and do it.

Have fun with your workouts and train a little harder than you think you are capable. Hydration and nutrition, proper rest, and all the other things we all know to do are important. But if you don’t want to workout it’s always hard to keep it up. So, HAVE FUN! Mix it up, do the unusual! It keeps it fresh and fun. Then push yourself a little farther each time. Run another 100 or 200 yards further. Do 2,3,or 4 more pushups. One or two more pull-ups. Bike up one more hill! The personal satisfaction of doing just a little more than you thought you could helps keep it fresh, fun, and motivating. Keep going and have fun!

I have found that taking your task and breaking it down to small segments can make anything possible. Example 50 mile hike focus on “a look” look as far as you can, focus on that location and when you arrive to your “look” find another. Depending on terrain the look can be short or quite long. It is an old redneck distance measurement that actually works! And of course hydrate!

oh as well I did try it twice before “when i felt ehh at times” but I did not have enough motivation. all I can say with that is keep on trying. some say smoking is harder to quit but man unless your overweight and smoking I think you got it all wrong lol

Remember why you are doing it- In my case “to keep it sorta simple” I was playing with my nephew one day and got winded so easily I couldnt believe it,. I went on the scale and it said almost 270! Sense then Ive been working on it pretty decent and im down to 230 in 8 months ish. I feel great and turned alot of the flab into muscle and still working on it some but man It feels great to be able to do things! also water water water?

The best tip I have is this. Before you can get to where your going. You must decide where it is you want to go. Decide why your working out. Do you want to run a marathon? Climb Mt Everest? Compete as a bodybuilder? Maybe it’s just to loose some extra weight? Get skinny? Get toned (yes, there is a difference)? This determines what type of exercises you should do. It all starts there. So many people just do what they think they should do or just do what they did in high school. They want a a certain thing but the workouts they do are not designed to give the results they want to see. Then they get discouraged and say ” I’ve tried working out but it doesn’t work for me”. I’ve gone to the same gym for 2 years and I go 5 days a week. I have seen people get better. I have seen people stay the same. I have seen them quit. I have seen them injure themselves. Don’t waste your time and de motivate yourself because of a lack of knowledge. In this day and age information is plentiful. Here is a great blog on diet that has helped me and my wife a ton. http://phillearneyblog.com/

When training in the summer heat remember “HYDRATE ” an easy way to hydrate is lemon water putting lemon juice in your water activates the absorption process in your body.Ive found it works faster than gatorade or any other hydration drink.

Be Prepared. Know Your Limits. Be Positive. Be Prepared: Have the right equipment to help you achive the task you set yourself and know how to use it effectively. Be sure your body is ready for the excursion: Stretching as required, staying hydrated, proper breathing, and protection as required. Know your limits: and push through them as your goals dictate! Don’t over do it as you’ll only set your goals back. Be positive: Most important tip for any activity. A positive mental attitude can take you much farther than you might realize. The wrong attitude can defeat your goals before you even start. Always be of the mindset: I CAN DO IT!!

Remember to have a buddy along side for moral and physical support when training hard in the out doors. Having a buddy will also make you wanna go just that much more now that you have some one to tell up keep going only a little longer. Bring plenty of water and a good snack for after your work out. And most of all have fun no one likes to do something that’s not fun , make it fun and you’ll do it more often.

Stretch, stay hydrated, and train in combat boots. The fit and weight will work muscles you weren’t aware of. When time comes to switch to the shoes the comfort and lack of weight will have you flying.

Train, train, train! Train and expect the worst that way you will be prepared for anything! I personally do Crossfit to prepare myself physically and read everything I can get my hands on to prepare myself mentally. Crossfit.com is one of the greatest resources for working out and becoming the fittest of the fit and I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to be the best!
It is the hardest thing I have ever done and it makes me willing to push myself that much harder. Try it, challenge yourself, and become the person you were meant to be!

Remember why you are doing it- This is what helps me! In my specific case I was in ok shape threwout highschool took some weight classes etc… and after highschool didnt keep up with it and tried to get back into it some from time to time but when I got winded like that from playing with my nephew and saw I was just under 270 I couldnt believe it! I’m not doing it per-say for anyone else but me but I would love to have many good experiences and memories threwout my life. I never plan on being in tip top shape but I within the 8ish months Ive been working on it here im 230 with a decent amount of muscle!! and much less flab! Besides “remember why you are doing it” , water water water!

When you are running, and you want to push yourself harder and harder, never forget to notice your surrounding. If you get too carried away, you might end up lost. If you are doing a long run, with bursts of sprints, take note of a landmark right before you start to sprint. This will help you build a mental map how how far you’ve gone, where you’ve gone, and it will also help you keep track of how many sprint sessions you did during the run, by counting the landmarks afterward. You can use this to improve on what and how you would make your runs different. You will also learn your limits better this way, and help you set goals.

Consistency,discipline and determination are the three words that come to mind. I am 48 years old and have been working out since I was 11 years old. 10 years as a United States Marine Infantryman left me with the mindset that I must always be fit and prepared for what ever life throws at me. Weight training and running 5 days a week all my life. I plan on following the same routine as long as I breath!! SEMPER FI !

The best advice that anyone can give on the topic of working out without trying to convence you of using their methods to train is as simple as one word. That word being drive it doesnt matter what your training for or what routines you use, or even the steps you take before and after a workout; without a driving force behind you a workout is usless. Which is why before any workout you should take a moment to think long and hard about what you are striving for and why you want to reach that goal, whatever it may be. Because in the end it is your goals and your hardwork that will be noticed and recognized by not only others but by you.

I live in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with elevations ranging between 4,100-7,800 ft. There is nothing better than heading out with a pack and rucking the numerous trailheads out into the boonies. With a majority of the trails leading through National Parks, there are numerous places for pits stops for beginners, but I like to head out early in the morning as to avoid others. Great clean air, leg burning workout and getting to see some beautiful country is amazing

Always have a plan. Even for instances where things go wrong. That way you will know what to do, and you can survive, or escape imminent danger. Let people know when you plan on returning, that way they’ll know if something goes wrong. Know of ways to signal others in case of an emergency. These may just be a few procedures in an emergency plan,

Never sabotage your fitness goals with negative emotions. Too many people feel that because they miss a workout or exceed the recommended calorie intake for the day that they have in some way failed. Life is meant to be enjoyed first and foremost. Keep a positive attitude and do the best YOU can daily, and the rest will all fall into place.

Best advice…actually get out and go do something, whether its a walk aroud the block, run up and down the basketball court, or hit the weights. Once you make a conscious decision to act, your possibilities become limitless.

Wear bearfoot-like shoes or boots with a flat sole, such as the vibram fivefingers, Nike SFB, Merrel Trail Gloves, or Rocky S2V’s in order to build up the muscles in your legs and/or feet that you normally wouldnt have strong, which helps a lot with balance on certain grounds.

The most important thing to remember when starting to work out or do something physical is that it should be fun. The more you enjoy an activity, the more frequently you’ll make time to accomplish it. The second most important thing is that you must set achievable goals, long- and short-term. Lastly, make yourself accountable to someone or something. When you report your successes, you will have incentive to start and will begin to enjoy the healthy relationship between yourself and the activity.

Start slow. In all things start slow. Before you run, walk. Before you walk, stretch. Before you stretch take several deep, slow breaths. Starting slow and focusing on your form will insure a productive and injury free training session.

The hardest part of the day has got to be convincing the wife that pulling me around for a couple of miles in the rickshaw is the easiest way to keep her building muscles, increasing endurance, and burning calories. I, of course, am right there behind her during such runs constantly giving the much needed motivation (as any great husband would do).

The best thing I can think of is if you train outside try to pay attention to the fact that you are breathing in fresh oxygen from the plants around you. The whole world is alive. Your heart is beating, pushing blood filled with oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. It’s amazing and it’s what your body was made for. If you can do your workouts and be awed by nature at the same time, exercise can become a kind of spiritual activity. And for total health, you have to be spiritually healthy too. Even if you’re an athiest. Your brain is wired for it. You can feel connected to the planet and to your body. The three most amazing things in the whole universe are your body, your mind, and this planet.

Best thing to do is hang a sign on the mirror in the bath that states. I RUN. And take 2 mins every morning to think about what the means. If that does not get you moving for the day maybe try about sport. 🙂

Shave your legs chest stomach ect. Also cut your hair short and run with no shirt. Shaved legs feels amazingly better! Also when you are commuting home from work do not run the air condition, really sweat it out and embrace the heat.

“Consistency in training will take us a long way on the road to running success but it can only take us so far. I would argue that what we feed our bodies is just as important as the training itself. Inconsistency and compromise in our diet will yield mediocre results in our training adaptations. Simply put, you are what you eat.”

From my book “Smoothies For Runners”

I’m of the opinion that few things can match the smoothie when it comes to post-run recovery nutrition. Easily digested and ready for use by our bodies as they rebuild. It’s been 2 years since I’ve experienced an injury that kept me sidelined. Once I dialed in my nutrition, injuries began to fade, even after taking my body to the wall in training.

I’m “borrowing this from Roes”,but it”s great advice,”it”s not as much about how fast you can go at the fastest points,and more about how fast you can go at the slowest points”,So how much can you minimize the rate at which you slow down over time,When you are tired,bonking,struggling,etc,look at those moments as the best way to achieve your goals,and repeat the mantra,”how fast can i go at my slowest points”,and keep moving forwards..

We all have them. And so most of us (unless we are pros) go out of our way to train around them.

When the truth is 1) training your weakness will have a disproportionately large impact on improvement.

2) training your weakness may end up revealing a hidden source of strength in area you just “thought” you’d always be bad at.

3) nothing gives you more satisfaction than watching that weakness disappear.

4) training a weakness is contagious. Once you’ve done it once, it becomes natural. You look forward to it. You find another one and train that too. And before you know it, you accomplish things you never thought were possible. In running and in life.

If you train by yourself, now and again join a group or run with a friend. I found this can add a new outlook on training plus you can get in some good conversation. There have also been times that iI ran with buddies and was able to run faster or longer then I would have on a training run.

Nothing prevents soreness after a long run like soaking in a cold stream or lake. Even five minutes can make a difference. Before each long run, I pack a separate bag with:
-Towel
-Hoodie (you will chill quickly!)
-Recovery drink/bar
-Sandals
As well as other various accoutrements – amino acid capsules, shower gear, etc

I personally hate ice baths – they are horribly unpleasant in every way for me EXCEPT – in my three years doing stage races, I have found that nothing quickly reduces inflammation, cools the muscles & joins, and promotes healing than straggling into a cold soak within 5 minutes after I finish running. The gain in performance the next day and the comfortableness in the drive home (especially if you’re driving multiple hours home from a race) makes the soak WELL worth it.

Nutrition is a key component to training, racing and recovery. When I didn’t take this seriously my recovery was shot, my legs would be blown halfway through a race and I would always be the guy bonking on my training runs. I figured the bonking on the training runs just made me a better runner come race day…which was complete fallacy. Now I take nutrition seriously on any long run and also pay close attention to recovery after any hard effort.

During runs over 2.5 hours I focus on consuming around 200 calories an hour…as long as it’s a training run. If I’m racing and I can take in more then I will try to bump this up to 300. I find that electrolyte caps, either S!Caps or some other brand coupled with water help me stay on top of my hydration better than Nuun or any sports drink.

For recovery I switch between grabbing an iced mocha on the way back from the run or if I remembered to pack it I will drink some ultragen.

To put it in perspective before paying attention to nutrition and recovery I was pretty spent after about 65-75 miles in a week and always had to take a lighter week after that. Now that I’m consuming a few more calories on the longer runs and focusing more on immediate recovery I’m able to string together 70-90 mile weeks without needing nearly as many down weeks.

I know all this nutrition info is readily available, but I think it helps reinforce the message to hear that it works for mid packers as well as the elites. (I’m a perennial mid packer)

Working full time and raising a 1.5 year old and a 3.5 year old has me out the door at 4:45am every morning for my daily run. The best advice I can offer is put on your shoes as soon as you get out of bed. Once your shoes are on your feet, 90% of the run is complete.

Respect the Machine. If you don’t listen to your body then your training will never pay off. Rest when your body tells you it’s at the edge of failure, but don’t be afraid to push it when things are feeling good.

Baby steps. Especially if your starting as a big boy like I did. Don’t let yourself get discouraged by the numbers on the scale. Take some pictures and measurements. You may not be seeing huge numbers on the scale but the noticeable changes via your pics and measurements will keep you motivated.

Babu steps. Especially if your starting as a big boy like I did. Don’t let yourself get discouraged by the numbers on the scale. Take some pictures and measurements. You may not be seeing huge numbers on the scale but the noticeable changes via your pics and measurements will keep you motivated.

1: SHOES, make sure you’ve got shoes that will hold up, take a beating and treat your feet right. If you’re feet aren’t comfortable, you’re not comfortable. If you’re trail running, get a decent pair of trail running shoes, if you’re hiking, get a decent pair of hiking. Get the right footwear for the right activity.

2: FUN, when you’re training, make it fun. If you’re training for a race, throw in some obstacles or try different routes to change up the scenery. Also, if you run with earphones in, try trail running without them so you can hear the noise of the region around you.

I say dont workout. I say have adventures everyday enjoy life as much as possible and push the boundaries of your surroundings to the limit and beyond that. Attempt to see what the human body is really capable of. Get the adrenaline pumping make each breath count more than the one before it. Savor the picture perfect views when you summit the mountain and crank out the adrenaline when you base jump back to the bottom. Life is a gift and a short one at that take every thing you do to the max so when your time is up you can go out knowing you lived as well and as hard as you possibly could and go out wearing your Suunto there is not a better adventure companion.

There is a saying that “to the bold goes the bounty” there are few things in my life that have rung more true, but being a dreamer and accomplishing that dream are two different pursuits all together. I would say if you want to accomplish great things you need to train on an absolutely epic level. To train in a way that appears humanly impossible to others can be as easy as setting small goals that will get you closer to the final destination.

On Sept. 11th I like many others lost loved ones and I made the decision to become an Army Special Forces Green Beret (I was determined to avenge my loved ones) I told others what I was going to do and I got more than a few jeers and laughs at my expense (believe it or not there isn’t a ton of biochemists fighting to enlist). I took it day by day and everyday I remembered my long term goal to enter the brotherhood but, after that I would make daily tasks that got me closer to accomplishing my mission. Always small goals that anyone could do, like put one foot in front of the other (when jumping out of planes) or just swim one more stroke (on a 3000 meter over the horizon swim).

There were more than a few set backs, on the first day of selection I saw 489 other “candidates” who wanted what I wanted they had goals of going to 1st group or getting on a “direct action team” I set my goal to see what we were eating for the next meal. After two and a half years of anticipating what I was going to eat the next day (or next week in the case of SERE school) I received my Green Beret and got sent to my team. 16 of the guys I went to selection with of the 489 graduated with me and I saw them again and again overseas on missions and the few I was close to will sometimes ask “Hey A.J. what do you think we are having for chow today” to which I always say “I don’t know but you can bet your ass I am going to find out.”

My tip is that it’s all about the music. If you tailor your music to your workout, I think it really gets that extra effort out of you. Whether its sprinting to techno, or cooling down to some retro 80’s, If you are passionate about your music it will show in your workout.

My best advice for training and racing is to master the “pre-race poop”. It is an easy method of dropping a pound or two prior to the start of a training session or event. There are few things worse than having a turtle pay peek a boo during training, or god forbid, competition. If by some chance the Cosby Kids did not want to go to the swimming pool beforehand, it is also important to become a master of the “Clean Launch”. This method will minimize any potential disaster that could occur if you held onto Barron von Turdmeister, as well as being the fastest and most economical method of mailing a letter. If all goes well, you will have a perfect dump that has the grace of an Olympic diver, no toilet paper required.

Set simple, attainable goals without limiting yourself. The human body can handle a lot and usually you have to overcome what your mind is telling you before your body. Push yourself hard because once you hit your goals you will realize anything is possible!

Understand and accept on the front end, that there is no easy way to get fit. It takes hardwork an perseverance. The rewards you reap are worth it, but the sooner you accept that it takes real effort to achieve your goals, the sooner you’ll be on the path to getting there.

Train in the morning because you will have the most energy than if you train after work or after on in the day. Eat 2 bananas because that gives you enough energy for an hour and a half of a workout. Dont drink coffee instead juice or water. wear clothes that are particularly light however base that on the current weather but you want to choose something preferably with a synthetic wool in it so it removes the sweat from your body, you can start out with a sweatshirt and sweatpants however after the warm up i recommend taking atleast one off both preferably because you will over heat. Same idea with sock i find smart wool is the best sock i have ever used. Based on were your going you defiantly want running sneakers however if you are going in a wooded area train runners would be better because of traction and stability. Before you workout i follow the Army Physical Readiness Training…http://www.armyprt.com/preparation_and_recovery/index.shtml
For an actual work out i like to run 2-5 miles stopping along the way and doing all different types of push ups from the normal push up to incline and decline push ups. also flutter kicks help a lot with legs. when finished for a cool down i walk for ten minutes then i stretch using the Army Recovery Drill http://www.armyprt.com/preparation_and_recovery/index.shtml. I like to take amino acids once i finish my workout because it helps with muscle regrowth and repair after a hard workout. During the workout drink at least 1 bottle of water before the run finishes. through out the day drink alteast one gallon of water. The night before a work out eat something like chicken and vegetables to give you then energy you will need to perform to the best of your ability. Always stay motivated and never quit.

It is my opinion that getting others involved in a workout routine is the best for training outside. A workout partner(s) provides motivation and competition. There is nothing better then having someone with you during those tough and never ending workouts. A partner also provides a level of safety, which is of the utmost importance. Being sidelined for an injury will definitely decrease your results or even worse; it could lead to a permanent injury. A partner can help monitor for unsafe conditions, weather related illness or just notify emergency personnel if necessary.

Time is the most difficult aspect of training especially when one has a spouse and a child, so maximizing the time you have when you do train is the most important thing. One way I have been able to maximize this time is by training when the family is asleep. This means starting runs at 3:30-4 in the morning depending on my work schedule. When doing long distance runs (15 miles or more) I try to employ a 5:1 or a 9:1 ratio creating a work/rest interval (run 5 or 9 minutes then walk 1) allowing me to gain long distances but keep my HR down and forcing myself to hydrate and eat during rest periods.

The “best” advice I can muster from my own experience is to train on your own terms, i.e,, what works for you. There’s so much out there–products, training plans, magazines, online sites, and so forth–that it can all be overwhelming. It’s okay to go slow (or fast, if you prefer) until you find things that you like: trails, roads, packs, GPS watches, or whatever. And most importantly, it’s okay to make mistakes. Everyone seems to swear by something at one point or another anyway, but no one can prove anything for certain. So whether you’re doing it solo or with friends, go with your own flow and enjoy your new-found experience(s) outdoors. Eventually, all those things that used to seem overwhelming will turn into a variety of things you’ll want to try out or work into your outdoors training.

When I signed up for my first ultra trail run, I trained on a variety of terrain, read any article about ultras that seemed interesting, tried different nutrition plans, and whatever else that came my way. However, I didn’t try everything all at once. I went at my own pace, at my own available time, and didn’t worry too much about so-and-so, even though I set my sights on certain goals. The point is: I kept going and had fun doing it. Even after completing my first ultra, I still enjoy learning and trying out new trails, roads, gear, nutrition, and what-have-you for running outdoors.

Don’t be afraid to take part in competitions from time to time. That way you’ll learn what are your real capabilities and also work on your self-confidence, especially if you’re one of those who don’t think much about themselves.

Establish a pattern. Form the habit. Once you form the habit over the course of several weeks, motivation starts to come internally. Internalized motivation is the strongest force you can bring to bear on physical fitness.

Trails, mountains are not only the place where you can become stronger person it’s a place where you should connect with this environment, understand and learn every time you are there, it’s a big playground. In outdoor training the time it’s not always the most important thing….. its your personal enjoyment and process. You will be surprise how quickly you will move forward with your personal goals if you understand and feel yourself from inside first.

Momentum is everything. Immerse yourself in every aspect of fitness and don’t look back. Exercise, diet healthy, and surround yourself with like minded individuals who will push you beyond your expectations. Once you begin to put effort in one aspect, all the other things seem easy. The encouragement you get from results and from your peers will exponentially progress you towards your goals. Momentum is everything. Start and don’t stop.

Never walk a hill in a training session. This used to be my mantra when I was a road runner, and it doesn’t really work for a trail runner, so I modified it to “Make the hills count”. I don’t follow a structured training program because life is busy. I mostly only manage to get out there 3 or 4 times per week and I have to make each session count. Hills give you plenty bang for your buck, use them.

Sign up for an event or challenge. By committing to an event , you set a goal or objective to work towards, as well as, experiencing the satisfaction of completing something which will further fuel your workouts. Check out: toughmudder.com (supports Wounded Warrior Foundation) and goruckchallenge.com (supports Green Beret Foundation). I’ve used both events as motivation, while helping support both notable causes.

Exposure….exposure, exposure, exposure. Get used to the climate for your next expedition. Our bodies are very smart, and are good at self regulating…you’re going to the desert? Go outside when it’s hot a few weeks before you head out. Your climbing Everest? Camp out at night when the temperatures are cooler. Your body will do the rest.

The best training tip I have come across is to keep a fitness journal or log. If achieving goals is important to you this will prove indespensable. A training log won’t sugar coat anything. Here are some of the reasons I think this is the best training tip.

A training log holds you accountable. I don’t know about you, but when I look back and see a couple of blank days where I know there should have been something there, it reminds me that I am the one who is in control of my fitness/health.

That brings me to my next point, motivation. The training log motivates me. It is a way to see the gains your hard work have achieved. And to develope habits and routines to keep that ball rolling.

Next, it helps you be honest. Who hasn’t caught that 10 pound bass, only to look at a picture of that day and realize it was really a sardine. Same for fitness. In your memory it only took you a month to loose that winter weight you put on. But when looking in your log suddenly you realize it was more like 3 months. We tend to remember things how we want to not always how they were.

And last. It is a way for you to create a game plan for your future success. Looking at your logs will give you the insight in to what works for you and what doesn’t. You can see the mistakes you have made and adjust them for future success. You can see the things that work best and polish them.

The best way to use your fitness journal or training log is to get out there and do something worth writing down!

Driven athletes do not go easy enough on the easy days and I am totally guilty. This prevents you from performing hard enough on the hard workout days because you are not sufficiently rested. Use your Suunto HR alarm to set a max HR in a low endurance or recovery zone for your easy workouts. When the alarm goes off or the HR graph on the Ambit is above the dotted line immediately slow down or walk! You will be thankful on your hard workout day when your PTE shows you are improving.

Over the years, I have found that interval training (bursts of high intensity and low intensity) has been most effective when it comes to outdoor activities. Interval training is proven to improve endurance, which is especially helpful when doing any type of outdoor activity. I have found that this training has led to me to longer hikes, runs, and increased performance in outdoor sports such as football.

My best tip is to involve your family. This way you can spend some quality bonding time with your teenage kids while out kayaking or hiking trails. You get not only healthy together physically but more importantly mentally. For training with my wife, we mountain bike together -a healthy relationship is a haply one! So far in the past year it has helped me to lose over 30 pounds.

A training tip that has helped me concentrate during tactical exercises is to practice “belly breathing”. Often times while conducting urban ops, dismounted patrols, or airborne operations the physical activity, discomfort of gear, and level of risk causes a person to focus too much internally, and not enough on the external or operational environment. By mentally picturing a large round ball in the center of the stomach and filling it with each breath, it’s amazing how all the “noise” of an operation fades away. Stress is reduced, and a person can find the composure to project a steady confidence throughout the exercise.

The best training tip I have learned to date is taking an ice bath after an intense leg workout. Where it is a 50 mile bike ride with a 9 mile climb or a 12 mile trail run, 10 minutes in the ice bath will give you new legs! You can wear a sweater or a towel over your upper body if the cold is a little too much for you.